City Government officials and employees led by Mayor Beng Climaco began the day Monday with a prayer for the victims of calamities in Zamboanga, Bohol and Tacloban and other areas including those affected by the 2014 calamities in observance of the National Day of Prayer and Solidarity.

The prayer was said during the flag raising ceremony 8am yesterday morning and was in solidarity with calamity victims and the entire country which has been battered by successive calamities since last year.

“Our prayer is most especially for those who are still suffering as a consequence of the [Zamboanga] siege and all the calamities that struck the country,” Mayor Climaco declared.

City Government workers, per instructions from the mayor were also enjoined to watch and join the Day of Prayer program which was aired live from Malacañang with President Aquino leading the ceremonies at 5pm yesterday.

Themed “One Nation in Prayer”, the event was held as the Filipino people’s way of recognizing the power of the Almighty God who guides Filipinos in their journey towards a better and brighter future, a press statement from Malacañang said.

In his message, the president thanked the Lord Almighty despite all the disasters of the past years. “No disaster can put the Filipino spirit down. We know that you are there to bless and guide us. We don’t know what the future brings but we will face it head on.” — Sheila E. Covarrubias